The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-22

evidence TO show that the
European rabbit would be the curse
10 this country that It is in Australia
and New ZEALAND. yet there is no
proof to the contrary, and its intro
dustion would be, to say the least, an
unnecessary and hazardous expert
ment. As TO tie power Of an Off.
Ger of the government TO
prevent the ibtr duciion Of this
pest into the United States
| know OF no law con'erring any such
authority. Congress might enact o law
comforting upon til 9 Commissioner Of
Agriculture the power to prev ent the
landing Of aDy animal, bird or other
pest in any port OF the United States
that in his opinion would be injuIious
to agriculture, on the same principle
that II prevents the introduction Of
cattle affected with contagious dis
eases. He says also: Unless there 10
premeditsted importation by dealers,
here would seem 10 be nc occasion
for alarm.
PAIRcHILD n SMITH WEED.
The Cabinet makers are still hard at
work trying TO chow the President
how he should mend the rent in bis
council board caused by Manning's
retirement. They are gradua ly mar
rowing down their prophecies to the
one vacant plaza in the Cabinet, and
OF all the names suggested for the
place those Of Mr.. FaiTchild and
Smith NJ. Weed are now the only ones
repeated with any show OF assurance.
A Kentucky member assured your
correspondent today that when Mr..
Carlisle went to the White House yes.
terday in response to an invitation
from The President the Treasury mort
folio was offer d t1 him and he refused
TO accept 1t. However this may be, 1t
is pretty certain that no Western man
will be given the place. Mr.. Pendle'on
says his return TO Washington had
nothing to do with the Treasury va
cancy whatever. 1t is deemed pIobs-
bis Il at the President will send in tbs
nomination some time this week.
MR. srRINGER's CLAIM BILL.
Mr.. Springer Is still pushing the bill
by VIII CHI he hopes to transfer from
Corgress TO the Court OF Claims the
drudgerv involved in investigating the
fscts in the matter Of every caim
made against the United States
Henceforth, acc 1rding to this bill, a
person with a claim gainst the United
States must 90 to the Court Of Claims,
for, until that court reports its finding
OF facts, Congress will have nothing to
do with 1t. The court is to report to
Congress only ts finding OF fact, with
out giving any conclusions thereon, or
any opinion as to the legal questions
involved. Old claims adjudicated can
not be reopened. 1t Is stipulated that
any claim which has ever been acted
upon by any court, department. or COM
mission in authority shall bs forever
barred. This is a new provision to sat
isfy the obi sction made by Mr.. Randall
ard others to Mr.. .~Spiinger's oriQina.
bill under which old claims, a. adj
Gated years ago, might have been re-
opened. The bill is not to apply at all
to private pension claims, which were
reported on favorsbly, but the bill
stands way back ON the calendar, aud
in the regular call OF committees for
consideration OF bills the turn of the
Committee on Claims may not CINE
during the lifetime of the present Con-
gress. Mr.. Springer, as the chairman
OF the c )mmittee and the author Of
the bill, knowing this, endeavored to
get unanimous consent q week Ego for
the consideration Of the bill, but he
did not succeed. There was only one
chance left, aud MI. Springer never
mi,ses a chance. Immediately he in
troduced the bill, with I'M 'ndment,
and had it referred TO the COMMITTEES
on Wal Claims, which he knew would
report it %favorably, ard which he
knew would have an early turn in the
ca | OF the co mmittees. Toe amended
bill has been favorsbly reported On by
the O1mm tee on War Claims, and is
now on the calendar and will be the
frat to he called up from the Commit
tee on War Claims.
THE I%NTRBsTATE COMMISSION.
As to the Railroad Commission, it is
believed that Garlsnd will be at its
head; Clark, of Mas achusetts, for
merly pretident OF the New England
r lad, Is thought to b. sure OF a pla e,
and Herman Is liEely to be the N W
Yolk member. l. is hoped that the
Prehid mt will reserve these appoint
ments until after the adj Jurnment Of
Congress, 81 that he can appoint CO..
Morrison. The friends of That gentle-
man say that he will not accept the
place, and thst he file ut higher game.
The appointment of Mr.. Car isle opens
up the q lesti m OF the Speak 4rship. II
All exta session Is called 1t will at once
be Il pressing question. OF cou rse Mr..
Randall will be- a candidate, and it ia
even said that he and his friends are
favorable to Carlisle's appointment be-
cause il will open the way for him to
the Speakarship. Miller, OF Texas, aud
Hatcb, of Missouri, are named as pos
sible Speakers.
AN ARSENAL FOR TENNESSEE.
Senator Whitthorne Introduced a
bill today, appIopr atiug 100000 for
the purp 80 Of establishing an ar,enal
at Columbia, Tenn, for the manuiac-
turs of ordnance and ordnance stores,
the construction and control OF eaid
arsenal 20 be- under the dire C OF
the Secretary Of War.
ADMIRAL PORTER ON COAST DEFENsEs.
Admiral Porter has written to Con.
gresham Lawler on the Importance OF
nroterting the approaches to Boston,
New York and other cities with heav-
ily amored monitors carrying the
heaviest guns. He says that to'pedoes
cannot b. relied upon, that duri 9
the Russo Turkish war, which 10 the
only one except our civil war we
know Of where torpedoes have been
extensively used, with the hundreds
Of Whitehead torpedoss employed by
the Russians against the Turkish navy
only Que Turkish ship of inferior quail.
ity was destroyed. During our civil
war, when the Oonfederstes had their
rivere, hal bors, bate, etc, obstructed
nv torpedoes, the United States lost
but twenty two vess Is in spite Of the
great energy aud intrepid OF the
Conieder t-s, aud the Admiral says;
~ am qui o satisfied that they were a:
well prepared in those days for the de-
l- ,la,l. M ,.va a.a 90